Low Disc Space

[Leah]

Uh-oh...my computer keeps telling me that I'm running out of disc space and yet, I still keep downloading new stuff!

Wow...I think I just realized that we only have 1GB of ram!
I never really thought about it before, until we got our iPod with 30GB!!

Now what?
It would take a gazillion CD-RW's for me to put everything on a disc (and obviously I'm gonna need more ram).
But in the meantime, do any of you use an external source of memory to back up your files??

Thanks!

[Nettio]

RAM and memory aren't the same as hard drive space. Do you mean you only have 1GB of space on your hard drive? A lot of people use external hard drives to store their photos and scrap stuff in order to free up space on the computer.

[Susan Bartolini]

Yep...I had the same problem. Lots of RAM 3GB, and no hard drive space. I got an external HD and it crashed on me after two weeks...so that was the end of my EHD experience. I decided to just purchase another HD and install it myself. So, now I have 750 GB on 2 HDs in my computer!

Oh and Leah, you should look into installing an additional HD (if your computer will accomodate it). It was really cheap (less than $150 bucks) and I totally got a ton of space and my computer is running better. Computers usually allocate a part of your HD as virtual memory...so if you are low on HD space, you computer will slow down.

Susan

[iJenny]

I have a big ol' EHD and I love it!! I keep all of my photos, completed pages, and scrap stuff on it. I go through it periodically and clean it up (defrag, scandisk, etc) and its still working great!! Plus, you can take it with you if you need it somewhere else like a laptop, other PC, etc.
________
WASHINGTON DISPENSARIES

[kscwgirl]

I keep all my scrap stuff on my EHD too. It's really worked out well for me!!

[ColleenSwerb]

I love my EHD. Within a year I'll have a snazzy new laptop to play on and I'll probably get another one to use as a backup for my backup, lol.

[ditzyscrap]

Yeah, I have a 350GB EHD, too...love that thing! My internal is 200 GB, I think...and is only 40% full...I extract directly to my EHD and backup my layouts and layouts once a month or so...

[Leah]

So are these EHD's expensive?

What about just another HD in my computer?

And when you back up your files, where do you put them (all on discs??)?

[Leah]

Okay...I've done some looking at these EHD's and what kind does everyone have? Is there one brand that is better than the other? Do I need the biggest EHD out there?

[Hom74]

My brother got me a 200GB over a year ago. I got a 500GB earlier this year when he told me he saw a deal on Dell where it was under $100. I told him to let me know b/c I'm gonna get anothe one if it every gets that low again lol.

I backup to DVDs

[Leah]

Originally Posted by Hom74

My brother got me a 200GB over a year ago. I got a 500GB earlier this year when he told me he saw a deal on Dell where it was under $100. I told him to let me know b/c I'm gonna get anothe one if it every gets that low again lol.

I backup to DVDs

So I can back up all of my pictures, kits, etc. onto DVD's? I've got a million DVD-R's and I never use them for anything other than movies.

[scarletheels]

Hubs bought me a 500 gig WD My Book Essential Edition. I'm sure there are better brands out there but this was affordable and has suited its purpose well. I back up everything to my website storage. I tried using CDs as back ups - what a pain! I don't suggest this method for anyone because it's time consuming, mind numbing, and then you have a gazillion discs to keep track of.

[scrapmonkey]

I just got a 500GB backup drive this weekend - a SimpleTech one click guy. Got it on sale add a Best Buy Rewards 12% off coupon and a $50 gift certificate I won and it definitely became affordable. Now I'm re-organizing things so I can do a proper backup and use the backup drive for my supply and photo source. My husband was shocked that in the two and a half months I managed to use up the nearly 160GB of space on this laptop (of course I had transferred some from my old computer), so I'm right with you!

[BrattyMeg]

Karen dealcatcher has the 500gb EHD for 110.00 with free shipping..not too bad

I do the same I save everything to my EHD and burn my pics, LOs and Scrap stuff monthly to DVDs

[Hom74]

Originally Posted by FlirtatiousBrat

Karen dealcatcher has the 500gb EHD for 110.00 with free shipping..not too bad

I do the same I save everything to my EHD and burn my pics, LOs and Scrap stuff monthly to DVDs

hmmm...do you have a link? I'm searching for 500gb ehd and coming up w/a $300+ one. I'll probably run it by my brother (as always lol) to see if he thinks it's a good brand.

[BrattyMeg]

Sure HERE have to go thru dealcatcher to get the deal

It's the same one I have..knock on wood never had problems. I have the 300 and the 500

**eta** hmmm evidently maybe the deal isn't good anymore..mine is coming out as 129.00 now
They have new deals there all the time so it's bound to come down again..sorry lol I jumped the gun

[Hom74]

That looks like the one I have. I don't really need another one lol, but if I can get another one under $100 (inc tax and stuff) than I think I may lol.

[Traci Reed]

I hate EHDs I had two top of the line ones die in a matter of months on me so I bought a second 300 gig internal to back up to. I miss the portability but it's so much safer

[Nettio]

Originally Posted by Traci Reed

I hate EHDs I had two top of the line ones die in a matter of months on me so I bought a second 300 gig internal to back up to. I miss the portability but it's so much safer

I totally agree with Traci. If you have the space to add an internal hard drive I think that's always better than an external hard drive. The computer just does a much better job of keeping an internal drive cool which is why they tend to last longer.

When my laptop started running out of space earlier this year, I chose to get another drive to add to my DH's desktop rather than an EHD. I just connect to it through our wireless network. It's great because I don't have all the extra cords from the external to deal with and I feel more comfortable using it all the time since I know it's being kept cool. I do have a copy of everything backed up to an EHD for when I travel and as a backup but I don't turn that on except for when I'm backing up.

[iJenny]

I have a 400G EHD by Seagate and its great. It stays cool really well and I've never had a problem with it (knock on wood). I have no clue how much it cost (DH bought it) but I know they're out there for pretty decent prices.

Also, I'm going to start backing up to DVDs every couple of months. Its just better to be safe than sorry. I lost all of my digital photos once (only got a few back) and I'm still emotionally scarred from that experience. Its devastating to lost things that are irreplacable, ya know?

No matter how you back up, just be sure to do it. There's only heartache for those that don't.
________
Live sex

[Aggie Aviso]

I have always backed up to DVDs but I sure could use a backup HD still.

[Joan]

When you're HD is filling up, even though it might seem like you have a fair amount of space left, it will start slowing your computer down. Particularly if you are running programs like PS. PS needs HD space to function when you're working on large files, and if it's not there, or is barely there, you're going to start running into problems and have a lot of frustrations.

EHDs have come down so much in price, so they're just really worth having. If you can install another HD internally, that's a great option and they're really affordable these days. Not everyone can do that though, like myself. Really, even if you put an additional internal HD in, I don't think picking up an EHD is a bad idea. Portable, extra security and, hey, you can never have enough storage space! If photography and graphics are a big part of your computing life, you will always need more!

I had my most recent EHD up and die after a week when we had a power outage, but that can happen with an internal one too. It was obviously just a lemon since my other two were just fine. Had those other two for a long time now and they've been reliable as can be. My LaCie has hit the floor hard from desk height, and it didn't affect it at all. So I would say don't let one bad experience with an EHD turn you off. Check out reputable brands (LaCie, for example) and then watch for good deals. Sooooo worth it IMO!

[Leah]

I just finished backing up all of my files to DVD's last night - all of my pictures can fit on just ONE!!! Woooweeeee that's a new thing for me! It's always taken me like 4 CD-RW's just to back up my pictures.
I also put all my digital scrapbook files onto a DVD too and I've got some saved for another disc.

Question for you though...do you save your files until you have enough to burn a whole DVD? Or can you keep adding to DVD's at a later time?

[Traci Reed]

It depends on the software you use, most DVDs you can add to using Nero or NTI or most other programs.

I keep 3 back ups on DVD of my photos, i upload them to smug mug and I have them on both my hard drives inside my computer. Can you tell i lost a bunch before?? I'm kinda OCD about it now! LOL

[Paula]

I have a 320 gb HD in my computer and a 400 gb EHD. But, I highly recommend that you back up once a week. I do this every Saturday and catalog all my DVDs so that I'll know where to find stuff.

[Julie Billingsley]

Originally Posted by Hom74

My brother got me a 200GB over a year ago. I got a 500GB earlier this year when he told me he saw a deal on Dell where it was under $100. I told him to let me know b/c I'm gonna get anothe one if it every gets that low again lol.

I backup to DVDs

Hey Karen (and anyone), nudge me in a few months if you see a 500GB for around/under $100... I want to put everything on an EHD and put it in my safe deposit box.

[Leah]

Originally Posted by Traci Reed

It depends on the software you use, most DVDs you can add to using Nero or NTI or most other programs.

I keep 3 back ups on DVD of my photos, i upload them to smug mug and I have them on both my hard drives inside my computer. Can you tell i lost a bunch before?? I'm kinda OCD about it now! LOL

We have Nero! So if I just make sure to click on the "multi-session" I should be good to go??

[Traci Reed]

yeppers

[ditzyscrap]

I'm not sure, but don't you have to be careful with "multi-session" DVD's...if you switch computers, they won't work on the new computer (not even readable)? Just something I'd heard so I never did it...

[cheltzey]

Another hint: it's a lot cheaper (if you know what you're doing) to buy an external case and use an internal HD in the case. The price per gig is significantly lower. Fortunately I married a total nerd, so he does all this stuff for me. But I am picking quite a bit up, so I'm not totally useless!

[Traci Reed]

Originally Posted by ditzyscrap

I'm not sure, but don't you have to be careful with "multi-session" DVD's...if you switch computers, they won't work on the new computer (not even readable)? Just something I'd heard so I never did it...

Wow really? I've never had that problem! Interesting....

[Hom74]

Originally Posted by cheltzey

Another hint: it's a lot cheaper (if you know what you're doing) to buy an external case and use an internal HD in the case. The price per gig is significantly lower. Fortunately I married a total nerd, so he does all this stuff for me. But I am picking quite a bit up, so I'm not totally useless!

Yep! That's what my brother did for my 1st EHD.

[ditzyscrap]

Originally Posted by cheltzey

Another hint: it's a lot cheaper (if you know what you're doing) to buy an external case and use an internal HD in the case. The price per gig is significantly lower. Fortunately I married a total nerd, so he does all this stuff for me. But I am picking quite a bit up, so I'm not totally useless!

That's what my EHD is, but I bought it that way, lol! I went on eBay and found it...I think it's a Western Digital inside a totally random other company's case!

[Priscilla]

We have an extra computer (our server) and when I run low I transfer there and upgrade.

I am due for more soon........